Can Our Burdens Really Make Us Light?

LiIy was twirling around with a ribbon wand when all of a sudden she got a little sliver on the side of her hand. She went from “total-elation-care-free twirling” to “my-life-is-over, amputation-is-eminent” in a matter of seconds.

I examined the area thoroughly and even though I couldn’t see the intruder, I knew it was there from the way she recoiled when I rubbed my finger over the spot. As I sat with her, trying to figure out how to alleviate the pain she dramatically posed the question:

“Why does life have to be so haaaaaaaaard?!”

Like the good mother I am, my first response was to burst out laughing…BUT…I held it in. (Gold star for me) Amidst her drama, she really was looking for some solid answers.

Perfect teaching opp…

So I began to explain to her that struggles are actually here to make us stronger. When we have something that feels hard to do it allows us to become better and most importantly turn to Heavenly Father.

. . .

Case of the Missing Cards

Just last week I couldn’t find some Thanksgiving cards that I had all written out, stamped and ready to send. I remembered putting them in a “safe” spot (hah!) but I couldn’t remember where that was. It was frustrating. Just when I thought I was on top of things, with my cards ready to go well before the holiday, I now couldn’t find them and they would be late.

As I aimlessly wandered around our room looking for the cards, Lily overheard me saying out loud to myself, “Where are those cards?! I need to find them!”

Without hesitation, she said, “Mom, why don’t to pray and ask Heavenly Father to find them?”

Of course!

So I said a quick sincere prayer right then and there.

As soon as I said “amen” I walked over to a bag, opened it up, and found my cards nestled safely inside.

I held them up for Lily to see and said, “Guess what these are?”

She wasn’t amazed or stunned, she simply said, “See, God will always help you out.”

. . .

As I began explaining how struggles make us stronger I reminded her about how I couldn’t find my cards. It was a struggle for me. I didn’t like it. I was frustrated and annoyed.

HOWEVER…

Because of my struggle, I turned to God.

My struggle gave me an opportunity to ask God for help and reminded me that I can always turn to Him when I’m in need…big or small.

I think the concept sunk in for her…I can’t be sure. However… it definitely made me keep thinking about it.

Do I believe that struggles truly make us stronger?

. . .

It’s All About the Traction

Elder David A. Bednar, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, told a story about a man who took his truck up into the snowy mountains to get some wood for his family. When he found the spot where he would gather the wood he pulled over into a snow bank to park. But unfortunately he drove too far into the deep snow and all four wheels on his truck began to spin.

He was stuck.

Alone, a little worried, and embarrassed he got out of his truck and decided he might as well start cutting and gathering the wood. He filled his entire truck heavy with logs. Then, not knowing what else to do, he decided to give it one more try to get out.

As he put his pickup into gear and pushed slowly on the gas, to his surprise, he started inching forward. Slowly the truck moved out of the snow and on to the road. He was free to go home.

What was it that allowed him to move? What changed?

Elder Bednar said, “It was the load of wood that provided the traction necessary for him to get out of the snow, to get back on the road, and to move forward. It was the load that enabled him to return to his family and his home.”

The load. The very thing that gave him freedom was the load he was carrying.

Doesn’t that change the way you think about the burdens you are carrying? Our specific burdens are there to free us, to give us the opportunity to rely on God, rely on the Savior and LET THEM help us find peace, hope, and help.

Elder Bednar finishes with this, “The unique burdens in each of our lives help us to rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah (see 2 Nephi 2:8). I testify and promise the Savior will help us to bear up our burdens with ease (see Mosiah 24:15). As we are yoked with Him through sacred covenants and receive the enabling power of His Atonement in our lives, we increasingly will seek to understand and live according to His will. We also will pray for the strength to learn from, change, or accept our circumstances rather than praying relentlessly for God to change our circumstances according to our will. We will become agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:14). We will be blessed with spiritual traction.”

The very loads we are carrying can be the answer to our freedom.

So when you find yourself asking, “Why does life have to be so haaaaaaaaard?!”

Just remember…You’ve got this. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. And God is always there to help you out.

Welcome to Being Katie Brave! I’m so happy to have you here. If you’re looking to take better pictures (stress-free!), get the inside scoop on all things Disney World, or be inspired to live YOUR best life (even if especially if it scares you to death) …you’re in the right place. I ’ve written 3 photography books, our family lived at Disney World for 2 years, and wear my heart on my sleeve…all of which would never have come to pass if I didn’t push past my fears and step in the darkness. Join me as I share my adventure of life, one post at a time.

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Welcome to Being Katie Brave! I’m so happy to have you here. If you’re looking to take better pictures (stress-free!), get the inside scoop on all things Disney World, or be inspired to live YOUR best life (especially if it scares you to death) …you’re in the right place. I’ve written 3 photography books, our family lived at Disney World for 2 years, and I wear my heart on my sleeve…all of which never would've come to pass if I didn’t push past my fears and step in the darkness. Join me as I share my adventure of life, one post at a time.